Wildwood Fire Chief Randy Worsley, 58, received an award for 30 years of service on Saturday, June 23 during a celebration held at the Wildwood Fire Hall.
The timing of the award presentation was fitting as the fire department had spent much of the day attacking a small wildfire near the community.
“We were called out a little after 8 a.m.,” Worsley said.
“The landowner noticed the smoke coming up in the morning. He called 9-1-1 and put some buckets of water on it. We came in with about 1,500 gallons of water.”
Worsley called in the BC Wildfire Service, but when the unit crew arrived the fire was out so they stayed on it doing some ground work to make sure the fire stayed out.
“It is nice to have that relationship with forestry,” Worsley said.
Read more: Wildwood responds to historical fires
He received his award at a dinner held at the fire hall.
“It was a nice surprise,” he added.
Worsley said his new deputy chief is Brad Elliott and his assistant chief is Sabrina Dyck.
“They are both doing really well,” he added.
This is actually his 31st year of service with the fire department, but because of the wildfires in 2017 he missed receiving the 30-year-plaque last year.
Worsley said he also received an award that is shaped like an axe.
“I joked and said, does that mean I can quit now?” he said.